French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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